Soluble receptor br43x2 and methods of using

Abstract

Soluble, secreted tumor necrosis factor receptor polypeptides, polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, and related compositions and methods are disclosed. The polypeptides comprise one cysteine-rich repeat that is homologous to other tumor necrosis factor receptors, such as transmembrane activator and CAML-interactor (TACI). The polypeptides may be used for detecting ligands, agonists and antagonists. The polypeptides may also be used in methods that modulate B cell activation.

1 . A method for treating systemic lupus erythematosus in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to a ztnf4 polypeptide. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the antibody or antibody fragment specifically binds to a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 18. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antibody or antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a polyclonal antibody 
 (b) a murine antibody 
 (c) a humanized antibody derived from (b); and 
 (d) a human monoclonal antibody 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of F(ab′), F(ab), Fab′, Fab, Fv, scFv, and minimal recognition unit. 
     
     
         5 . An antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to a polypeptide selected from SEQ ID NO:59 and SEQ ID NO:60. 
     
     
         6 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 5  wherein said antibody or antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a polyclonal antibody 
 (b) a murine antibody 
 (c) a humanized antibody derived from (b); and 
 (d) a human monoclonal antibody 
 
     
     
         7 . The antibody fragment of  claim 5  wherein said antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of F(ab′), F(ab), Fab′, Fab, Fv, scFv, and minimal recognition unit. 
     
     
         8 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody or antibody fragment according to  claim 5  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         9 . A method for treating a disease comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment an antibody or antibody fragment according to  claim 5  wherein said disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, systemic lupus erythematosis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Crohn's Disease, glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, nephritis, pyelonephritis, light chain neuropathy, amyloidosis, membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, Berger's Disease, IgM nephropathy, Goodpasture's Disease, post-infectious glomerulonephritis, mesangioproliferative disease, and minimal-change nephrotic syndrome. 
     
     
         10 . A method for treating systemic lupus erythematosus in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an antibody or antibody fragment according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         11 . An antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2; and   (b) a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 4.   
     
     
         12 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 11  wherein said antibody or antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a polyclonal antibody 
 (b) a murine antibody 
 (c) a humanized antibody derived from (b); and 
 (d) a human monoclonal antibody. 
 
     
     
         13 . The antibody fragment of  claim 11  wherein said antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of F(ab′), F(ab), Fab′, Fab, Fv, scFv, and minimal recognition unit. 
     
     
         14 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody or antibody fragment according to  claim 11  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         15 . A method for treating a disease comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment an antibody or antibody fragment according to  claim 11  wherein said disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, systemic lupus erythematosis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Crohn's Disease, glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, nephritis, pyelonephritis, light chain neuropathy, amyloidosis, membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, Berger's Disease, IgM nephropathy, Goodpasture's Disease, post-infectious glomerulonephritis, mesangioproliferative disease, and minimal-change nephrotic syndrome. 
     
     
         16 . A method for treating asthma, bronchitis or emphysema in a mammal in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said mammal an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to a polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 6. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said antibody or antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a polyclonal antibody 
 (b) a murine antibody 
 (c) a humanized antibody derived from (b); and 
 (d) a human monoclonal antibody. 
 
     
     
         18 . An antibody or antibody fragment which specifically binds to a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) amino acid residues 1-37 of SEQ ID NO: 8;   (b) amino acid residues 1-48 of SEQ ID NO: 8;   (c) amino acid residues 8-37 of SEQ ID NO: 8;   (d) amino acid residues 8-48 of SEQ ID NO: 8;   (e) amino acid residues 41-88 of SEQ ID NO: 8;   (f) amino acid residues 8-88 of SEQ ID NO: 8;   (g) amino acid residues 1-150 of SEQ ID NO: 8.   
     
     
         19 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising an antibody or antibody fragment according to  claim 18  and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         20 . The antibody or antibody fragment of  claim 18  wherein said antibody or antibody fragment is selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) a polyclonal antibody 
 (b) a murine antibody 
 (c) a humanized antibody derived from (b); and 
 (d) a human monoclonal antibody. 
 
     
     
         21 . A method for treating a disease comprising administering to a mammal in need of such treatment an antibody or antibody fragment according to  claim 18  wherein said disease is selected from the group consisting of asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, systemic lupus erythematosis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, Crohn's Disease, glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, nephritis, pyelonephritis, light chain neuropathy, amyloidosis, membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy, Berger's Disease, IgM nephropathy, Goodpasture's Disease, post-infectious glomerulonephritis, mesangioproliferative disease, and minimal-change nephrotic syndrome.